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Children join global walk to fight hunger

The event, which aims at raising funds to assist the world's poorest children, was held under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The walk is in its fourth year in Dubai, and was being held worldwide for the fifth time.

The United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) teamed up with corporate partners, TNT and Unilever, as well as government authorities like the Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Education to organise the walk. Over million people took part in the walk in over 100 countries across 24 time zones.

"We hope to raise $5million for the cause," said Zeina Habib, the UNWFP's Public Officer.

All age groups were represented in the walk in Dubai. Parents and grandparents of children could be seen gearing up for the walk.

Maqbool, from Pakistan, was attending the walk for the first time. Michael, from the US, said this was his second walk, the first being in his home country two years before. "I hope this will be the biggest one yet, as poverty continues to grow every year," the store manager noted.

As per estimates, nearly 400 million children will be suffering from hunger and poverty by 2015.

• UAE